Arsenal moved to within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester United after a 1-0 home win over Stoke City – but the victory came at a cost with injury worries surrounding Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.
Spain midfielder Fabregas hobbled off six minutes after Sebastien Squillaci had headed Nicklas Bendtner’s cross into the visiting net for the winning goal at the Emirates Stadium.
Walcott was carted off in some pain on 71 minutes after he suffered an ankle injury from Dean Whitehead’s robust challenge on the edge of the visiting area.
Home skipper Fabregas cut a frustrated figure as he headed up the tunnel to be replaced by Andrei Arshavin on 14 minutes.
Early reports claim Fabregas was taken off as a precautionary measure with a tight leg muscle, but Walcott’s fall looked more serious.
Ligament damage looked a real possibility as the England winger tried to put his weight on the ankle before calling for a stretcher. Denilson was introduced for the remaining 19 minutes.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will hope the problems can be overcome with the club aiming to win their first major trophy in six years against Birmingham City at Wembley Stadium in Sunday’s Carling Cup final.
Arsenal also have the return leg of their Champions League encounter with Barcelona looming on March 8 at the Camp Nou.
Arsenal hold a 2-1 lead in the last 16 tie against the Spanish champions, while they are now in the thick of the Premier League title chase having held off a spirited Stoke side.
Wenger’s side have played one game more than United, but they are only a point worse off with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side due to visit the Emirates on April 30.
A lot can happen between now and then, but Wenger looked relieved to finally get over the finishing line as Stoke came to life after being hemmed in for large swathes of the first period.
Little did they know what was to come when Fabregas played in Walcott on two minutes. He swivelled neatly in the box only for his shot to crack off a post and land back in the arms of visiting goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
The home side looked likely to ride roughshod over Stoke when Squillaci nodded home from close range, but the loss of Fabregas seemed to impact upon their early fluency.
Despite binging on possession, Arsenal could not cut open Stoke.
Visiting forward John Carew showed his threat when he thumped a volley at the net from 25 yards that forced Wojciech Szczesny to make an excellent diving stop.
It took Stoke 35 minutes to manage that first attempt at goal, but they continued to provide some menace early in the second period.
Captain Ryan Shawcross – who was constantly booed for his tackle that left Aaron Ramsey with a broken leg in Stoke a year ago – saw a header deflect wide from Jermaine Pennant’s cross.
Tony Pulis’s team continued to pursue the route one avenue with Robert Huth heading Rory Delap’s long throw over the bar from inside the area around the hour mark.
Walcott managed to knock Arshavin’s pass over the bar in space on 65 minutes, but the damage had already been done to Stoke with Squillaci’s effort proving the difference between the teams.
Arsenal have to wait to hear the extent of the damage they suffered.
With Robin van Persie and Laurent Koscielny missing this match due to injury, the condition of Fabregas and Walcott are of real concern to a side that remains alive in the League, Carling Cup, FA Cup and Champions League in the death throes of February.
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